hat it was
a rare thing to find a person, male or female, in New England, who
could not write as well as read. Then, said he, New England must be
covered with charity schools.--I replied, that we had no _charity_
schools, or very few; at which he looked as if he thought I had
uttered an absurdity. I then related in a few words our school system.
I told him, that the primary condition or stipulation in the
incorporation of every town in Massachusetts, and which was a "_sine
qua non_" of every town, was a reserve of land, and a bond to maintain
a school or schools, according to the number of inhabitants; that the
teachers were supported by a tax, in the same way as we supported our
clergy; that such schools were opened to _every_ child, from the
children of the first magistrate down to the children of the
constable; and that there was no distinction, promotion or favour, but
what arose from talent, industry and good behaviour. I told him that
the children of the poorest people, generally went to school in the
winter, while in the spring and summer they assisted their parents.

He walked about musing awhile, and then turning back, asked me if the
clergy did not devote much of their time to the instruction of our
youth--very seldom, sir--our young students of divinity, and
theological candidates very often instruct youth; but when a gentleman
is once ordained and settled as a parish minister, he never or very
rarely keeps a school. At which the general appeared surprised. I
added that sometimes episcopal clergymen kept a school, but never the
presbyterian, or congregational ministers. He asked why the latter
could not keep school as well as the former; I told him, because they
were expected to write their own sermons, at which he laughed.
Besides, parochial visits consume much of their time, and when a
congregation have stipulated with a minister to fill the pulpit, and
preach two sermons a week, visit the sick and attend funerals, they
think he can have not too much time for composing sermons. They
moreover consider it derogatory to the honor of his flock to be
obliged to keep a school--when I told him that our clergymen bent all
their force to instructing youth in morality and religion, he said,
then they attempt to raise a structure before they lay a foundation
for it. He seemed very strenuous that our priests should be employed
in the education of youth, as he conceived that hired school masters
had not the pious zeal